Picture Frame with Quick Release Back

ABSTRACT

A picture frame assembly is provided that includes a picture frame, a window disposed in the picture frame, and a backing member for retaining a sheet form graphic piece against the window. The backing member is adapted to be quickly released from the frame to provide access to the graphic piece and reassembled to the frame for displaying the graphic piece. The backing member is assembled to the frame and disassembled from the frame by compressing a compressible section to move a tongue into a release position to clear a back rib as the backing member is moved toward the window and away from the window. The tongue is returned to a normal position in which the tongue is disposed between the front rib and the back rib to retain the graphic object within the frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/909,999 filed Apr. 4, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a picture frame that has a quick release back that is simple to remove and replace and lends itself to obtaining autographs on the framed graphics material.

2. Background Art

Picture frames are normally made with a frame that sandwiches a photograph, or other graphic artwork, between a pane of glass and a backing member. Simple picture frames may include a plurality of clips that are used to secure the individual parts of the picture frame and framed matter together.

Relatively complicated spring clips and other inter-engaging parts may be used to force the backing member against the photograph or graphic piece and into engagement with the glass pane. Spring clips and other complex retaining mechanisms are difficult to remove and reinstall. Normally, it is best to disassemble the artwork from a picture frame when the picture frame is placed on a table. If no table or other working surface is provided, many prior art picture frames are relatively difficult to work with. If, for example, a person wishes to obtain an autograph on a framed picture while standing in a line or attending a special event, the limited time for obtaining the autograph may be insufficient to allow for disassembly of the framed picture in time to obtain the autograph.

While some prior art picture frames provide receptacles for hanging the pictures, such receptacles may be limited to hanging the picture in one or two orientations and may be inconvenient to use. Adding picture hanging clips to the back of a frame adds cost and adds to the number of parts that must be provided in the frame assembly.

There is a need for a picture frame backing member that may be easily disassembled with one hand in a few seconds without the need for a supporting surface for disassembly and reassembly of the picture frame assembly. There is a further need for a picture frame assembly that includes a picture frame, a window, and a unitary backing member that securely holds a picture or graphic work. There is also a need for a one-piece integrally formed picture frame backing member that includes receptacles for hanging the picture on a wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the applicants development, a picture frame assembly is provided that includes a picture frame, a window disposed in the picture frame, and a backing means for retaining a sheet form graphic piece against the window. The backing means is adapted to be quickly released from the flame to provide access to the graphic piece and reassembled to the frame for displaying the graphic piece.

According to another aspect of the development, an apparatus for displaying a sheet form graphic object such as a photograph is provided that includes a frame, a window that is received within the frame, and a backing member. The backing member retains the graphic object within the frame and against the window. The backing member has a body portion that is generally planar in shape and a tongue that is connected to the body portion by a compressible section. The tongue is movable between a normal position in which one end of the tongue extends outwardly from the body portion and a release position in which the one end of the tongue is pulled in an inward direction to a point inboard of a back lip provided on one of the walls. The backing member is assembled to the frame and disassembled from the frame by compressing the compressible section to move the tongue into the release position to clear the back rib as the backing member is moved toward the window and away from the window. The tongue is returned to the normal position in which the tongue is disposed between the front rib and the back rib to retain the graphic object within the frame.

Other optional features of applicant's development may include providing an elastically deformable compressible section between the body portion of the backing member and the tongue. The backing member may be an integral member in which the body portion, the tongue and the compressible section are formed in a single piece from a molded polymer. The compressible section may be a U-shaped channel formed by an inboard end of the tongue and an edge of the body portion that are connected by a bridging portion that flexes to allow the inboard end of the tongue to move inwardly and outwardly relative to the frame.

The tongue may define a finger cut-out opening and a finger recess formed on the body portion. The finger recess may be oriented relative to the finger cut-out portion to permit the tongue to be moved to the release position by grasping the finger cut-out opening and the finger recess to compress the compressible section in the direction that the tongue moves between the normal position and the release position.

The backing member may have a transverse wall that extends across the body portion of the backing member to reinforce the backing member against deflection in the direction that the tongue moves as the tongue is moved from the normal position to the release position. The finger recess may be provided oil the transverse rib. The backing member may have a locking lip that engages a first location on the frame that is opposite a second location on the frame that is engaged by the one end of the tongue.

Another feature of applicant's apparatus, the backing member may define a hanger receptacle that is provided at an intermediate location near one wall of the frame. The frame may have four walls that are disposed in a rectilinear arrangement and the backing member may have a plurality of hanger receptacles that are each located near one of the walls for hanging the frame in a balanced relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a picture frame assembly, including the frame, glass pane, graphic piece and backing member;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the quick release portion of the backing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to FIG. 1, a frame assembly is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The frame assembly 10 includes a frame 12 that retains a glass pane 14. A graphic piece 16, such as a photograph, picture, or other artwork, is pressed into engagement with the glass pane 14 by a backing member 20. The backing member includes a planar surface 22 that is bounded by a perimeter wall 24.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the backing member 20 is shown to include the planar surface 22 and perimeter wall 24. The perimeter wall 24 includes a top wall 26, a bottom wall 28, a right side wall 30 and a left side wall 32. The perimeter wall 24 fits within the frame 12 when the backing member 20 is assembled to the frame 12.

The backing member 20 includes a transverse rib 36 that extends between the right side wall 30 and the left side wall 32. A tongue 38 extends from the transverse rib 36 towards the top wall 26. The tongue 38 includes a compressible section 40 at an intermediate location on the transverse rib 36 and a locking lip 42. The locking lip 42 extends outboard relative to the top wall 26 and interlocks the backing member 20 with the frame 12 in conjunction with a base notch 44 that is formed on the bottom wall 28. The backing member 20 is locked to the frame 12 as a result of the engagement of the base notch 44 and locking lip 42 with the frame 12. Operation of the backing member 20 will be described more specifically below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, a finger cutout 46 is provided in the tongue 38 near the locking lip 42. A complimentary finger recess 48 is formed in the transverse rib 36. As best shown in FIG. 1, a person may grasp the finger cutout 46 with one or more fingers and the finger recess 48 with another finger to compress the tongue 38 as shown by the directional arrows in FIG. 1. When the tongue 38 is compressed, the locking lip 42 becomes releasable from the frame 12 and the backing member 20 may be removed completely from the frame 12 by pivoting or lifting the backing member 20 to free the base notch 44 from the frame 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, a top hanger receptacle 50 is provided as part of the finger cutout 46. The top hanger receptacle 50 is centered relative to the top wall 26 of the backing member 20 to permit the frame assembly 10 to be hung on a wall. Alternatively, a right side hanger receptacle 52 and a left side hanger receptacle 54 may be provided adjacent the right side wall 30 and left side wall 32, respectively. The right and left hanger receptacles 52, 54 permit the frame assembly 10 to be hung from a wall in a portrait configuration in either a right side up or left side up orientation.

Referring to FIG. 3, the frame assembly is shown in cross section and in greater detail. The frame includes a perimeter channel 56 that includes a front lip 58 and a back lip 60. The glass pane 14 engages the front lip 58. The backing member 20 engages the back lip 60 when the backing member 20 is assembled to the frame 12 with the graphic piece 16 being sandwiched between the backing member 20 and the glass pane 14. The locking lip 42 of the tongue 38 is seated behind the back lip 60 to lock the tongue 38 to the frame 12. The base notch 44 on the bottom wall 28 also engages the back lip 60 to hold the bottom wall 28 in the frame 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, release of the backing member 20 from the frame 12 will be described. The backing member 20 is shown in its released position in solid lines in which the tongue 38 is compressed by the person grasping the backing member 20 with one finger in the finger cutout 46 and another finger engaging the finger recess 48 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the transverse rib 36. The person attempting to remove the backing member 20 compresses the compressible section 40 resulting in a reduction of the length of the tongue 38 indicated by the dimension D. The compressible section 40 is also shown in its normal, or expanded, position in phantom lines to have a generally semi-circular shape. When the compressible section 40 is compressed, it becomes more of a U-shaped section that permits the locking lip 42 to move from the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4 to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. When the locking lip 42 clears the back lip 60, the backing member 20 may be pulled out of the frame 12. When the backing member 20 is removed, access may be easily obtained to the graphic piece 16, essentially with one hand, while tipping the frame 12 so that the glass pane 14 remains in the frame 12 while an autograph is obtained or another modification is made to the graphic piece 16.

The above description of the illustrated embodiment of the invention is intended by way of example and should not be construed to limit the invention to the illustrated embodiment. 

1. A graphic object display assembly for displaying a sheet form graphic object comprising: a frame including a plurality of walls defining a recess; a clear flat window is received within the frame and engages a front lip provided on the walls; and a backing member retains the graphic object within the frame and against the window, the backing member has a body portion that is generally planar in shape, a tongue is connected to the body portion by a compressible section and is movable between a normal position in which one end of the tongue extends outwardly from the body portion and a release position in which the one end of the tongue is pulled in an inward direction to a point inboard of a back lip provided on one of the walls, the backing member is assembled to the frame and disassembled from the frame by compressing the compressible section to move the tongue into the release position to clear the back rib as the backing member is moved toward the window and away from the window, wherein the tongue is disposed between the front rib and the back rib in the normal position in which the backing member retains the graphic object within the frame.
 2. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the compressible section is elastically deformable and is located between the body portion of the backing member and the tongue.
 3. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the backing member is an integral one piece member, wherein the body portion, tongue and compressible section are formed in a single piece from a molded polymer.
 4. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the compressible section is a U-shaped channel formed by an inboard end of the tongue and an edge of the body portion that are connected by a bridging portion that flexes to allow the inboard end of the tongue to move inwardly and outwardly relative to the frame.
 5. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the tongue defines a finger cut-out opening, and further comprising a finger recess formed on the body portion at a location that is oriented relative to the finger cut-out portion to permit the tongue to be moved to the release position by grasping the finger cut-out opening and the finger recess to compress the compressible section in the direction that the tongue moves between the normal position and the release position.
 6. The display assembly of claim 5 wherein the backing member has a transverse wall that extends across the body portion of the backing member to reinforce the backing member against deflection in the direction that the tongue moves as the tongue is moved from the normal position to the release position, and wherein the finger recess is provided on the transverse rib.
 7. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the backing member has a transverse wall that extends across the body portion of the backing member to reinforce the backing member against deflection in the direction that the tongue moves as the tongue is moved from the normal position to the release position.
 8. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the backing member has a locking lip that engages a first location on the frame that is opposite a second location on the frame that is engaged by the one end of the tongue.
 9. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein the backing member defines at least one hanger receptacle that is provided at an intermediate location near one wall of the frame.
 10. The display assembly of claim 9 wherein the frame has four walls that are disposed in a rectilinear arrangement, the backing member having a plurality of hanger receptacles, and wherein each hanger receptacle is located proximate one of the walls for hanging the frame in a balanced relationship.
 11. A picture frame assembly comprising: a wall enclosing an area, the wall having a front lip and a back lip; a window assembled to the wall and engaging the front lip; a backing member assembled to the wall between the window and the back lip, the backing member including a tongue that is connected to the backing member with a compressible section that yields elastically when the tongue is moved in a linear direction toward and away from the compressible section, wherein the tongue locks the backing member to the wall between the front lip and back lip when the backing member is assembled to the frame and the tongue is moved toward the compressible section to release the backing member from the frame.
 12. The picture frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the backing member is an integral one piece member, and the tongue and compressible section are formed in a single piece as part of the backing member from a molded polymer.
 13. The picture frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the compressible section is a U-shaped channel formed by an inboard end of the tongue and an edge of the backing member that are connected by a bridging portion that flexes to allow the inboard end of the tongue to move inwardly and outwardly relative to the edge of the backing member.
 14. The picture frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the tongue defines a finger cut-out opening, and further comprising a finger recess formed on the body portion at a location that is aligned with the finger cut-out portion in the direction that the tongue moves between the normal position and the release position, wherein the tongue is moved to the release position by grasping the finger cut-out opening and the finger recess to compress the compressible section.
 15. The picture frame assembly of claim 14 wherein the backing member has a transverse wall that extends across the backing member to reinforce the backing member against deflection in the direction that the tongue moves as the tongue is moved from the normal position to the release position, and wherein the finger recess is provided on the transverse rib.
 16. The picture frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the backing member has a transverse wall that extends across the backing member to reinforce the backing member against deflection in the direction that the tongue moves as the tongue is moved from the normal position to the release position.
 17. The picture frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the backing member has a locking lip that engages the wall of the frame at one portion of the frame that is opposite a portion of the frame that is engaged by one end of the tongue.
 18. The picture frame assembly of claim 11 wherein the backing member defines at least one hanger receptacle that is provided at a centered location near the wall.
 19. A picture frame assembly comprising: a picture frame; a window disposed in the picture frame; backing means for retaining a sheet form graphic piece against the window to be quickly released from the frame to provide access to the graphic piece and reassembled to the frame for displaying the graphic piece.
 20. The picture frame assembly of claim 19 wherein the backing means further comprises a tongue that is connected to a backing member with a compressible section that yields elastically when the tongue is moved in a linear direction toward and away from the compressible section, wherein the tongue Locks the backing member to the picture frame between a front lip and a back lip when the backing member is assembled to the frame and the tongue is moved toward the compressible section to release the backing member from the frame, wherein the backing member is an integral one piece member, and the tongue and compressible section are formed in a single piece as part of the backing member from a molded polymer. 